Partnership Guidelines for You and Your Architect

Architecture isn’t only for museums, corporations, and the very wealthy. Whether you are remodeling a kitchen, creating your dream home, or planning a commercial building, working with an architect can save time and money while making your new environment more functional, comfortable, and sustainable. The result is a project that is beautiful, original, and distinctive. The challenge lies in knowing how to communicate with your architect in ways that will enable you to get the most from this special collaboration. You and Your Architect can help you to do so personally, professionally, and creatively.

In this PDF Files booklet, you will guided to Selecting Your Architect, Knowing Services Available from Architects, Negotiating the Agreement, Compensating Your Architect, Keeping the Project on Track, How the AIA Can Help. You can download choose architect guidlines it here (see term of use).

But first, for getting started, Whether you have extensive experience with design and construction or are coming to both for the first time, it can be helpful to ask yourself a few questions before interviewing prospective architects. You do not need firm or complete answers at this point. Rather, these questions will help to ensure that your initial communications will be clear and productive and enable you to select the design professional best suited to your needs.

– How will your project be used? Do you have specific ideas on how to translate these activities into spaces and square footage?

– Do you have a site? Or will this also be a subject of discussion with the architect?

– Have you decided upon a schedule and budget?

– What are your overall aspirations for the project; aesthetic and emotional as well as practical?

– Who will be making the critical decisions? You alone, your family, or a committee of some sort?

– Where will the resources come from to create and operate your project?

– Are you willing to pay a little extra up front on systems that will save energy or bring other operations savings and pay back over time?

– Do you have previous experience with design and construction? If so, in what ways were you successful, and was the experience in any way disappointing?

– A good architect will listen closely to your answers, help you solidify your goals and desires, and translate them into an effective building. Look for a good listener, and you’ll find a good architect.